Posts: 9

Topic: No Tarceva/CT Scan / 3-D IMRT Monday

Made an unannounced visit to my Oncologist today. Decided some of my symptoms needed to be dealt with now instead of October. Lower back and side pain that increases of morphine is not doing the trick. It seems as though EFT gives me more relief than narcotics. Along with the pain, is my entire body jerks like I've been zapped with 110volts of elctricity. Only happens when I move the wrong way. My wife says I jerk once or twice almost every night. Also after prolong sittiing, an hour or so, I have to drag my right leg to get it to wake up, if I don't sit just right. I/We suspect the tumor I had tickling my spine about a year ago has decided to make a move and grow a little and is putting pressure on my spinal cord roots again. So it's time to fry them cancer critters again. He did ask if I was going to try chemo again and offered tarceva. I told him radiation and pain relief first and I would still consider chemo but probally not tarceva. So if i'm reading my body right ,I'll be freen of this pain and symptoms by the end of next week, if things go as they did last time. Off to the lean mean heat machine. Oh lainy if your reading this I did find another doctors opinion on the cyberknife forum, about how they use regular radiation first to soften tumors up for the kill by the cyberknife. The blog said regular radiation is not enough to kill the cancer, but weakens it so that cyberknife can finish the job. So I would assume what they are doing with Teddy is kinda a protocol a lot od radiologist are using. It made me feel good when I read that, as the first thing I thought,was their doing Teddy right!

Re: No Tarceva/CT Scan / 3-D IMRT Monday

Jeff,Best of luck at zapping those cancer critters. I am a big advocate of radiation to "cook" them little fellows....the Cyberknife kind of radiation. So far it seems to be keeping my husband's CC at bay. You are smart to head these pains off at the pass. Thoughts and prayers to you.Karen

Re: No Tarceva/CT Scan / 3-D IMRT Monday

OMG! Jeff, it is just like you to post something you would prefer not hearing yourself and add something good for someone else!~ First of all good luck on everything we will be following you with baited breath and know we are all cheering for YOU! Then, thank you for that information about Teddy. The doctors never explain the "whole" thing. Now that makes sense, I will tell him as soon as he wakes up. He is down because he thought they were going to cap his stint to the kidney and take off the bag. Honestly I don't see how he will ever get rid of the bag if the ureter is permanently damaged. Now he says he would rather be without that kidney. Keep us posted on you, I know you will and I just wish we could meet you, I think we would get along great!!!!

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: No Tarceva/CT Scan / 3-D IMRT Monday

First off, Good Luck to you Jeff. Lainy, it is interesting that you mention the ureter stint & bag. That is how Jim started out before we knew of the cancer. He had a stent put in the ureter & later had to have a bag as it was failing. That was in July & they thought it was caused by scar tissue. I now believe it was from the tumors. He too talked of getting rid of the kidney. I wish I had know then what I know now, although in Jim's case I do feel it would not have made much of a difference as the cancer was already too advanced. Even though it went so quickly in only 7 weeks, I have to console myself that he no longer is suffering or in pain. I pray for all of you that are still carrying on & wish you all the best. It is so frustrating that all the information we are gaining here is really not out there for others. Atleast it would help them to understand what is happening to them. Unfortunately by the time they find this wonderful site in a lot of cases, like ours, it is too late. Atleast I now have somewhere to go for support from others that have been there or are now dealing with this terrible disease & truly understand. All I can do now is try to be their for others that seek out this site for answers & support. Good luck to you & Teddy also. I will be thinking of all of you & you are all in my prayers.

Darla

"One Day At A Time"

All of my comments and suggestions are just my opinions and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care providers.

Re: No Tarceva/CT Scan / 3-D IMRT Monday

Hi Lisa, Teddy doesn't have cancer in the kidneys. What happened is when he had his Whipple and they rearranged the innards, the duodenum was left out. That is where the cancer returned in April. It is pressing against the right ureter and crimped it. I am amazed the ureter did not get mets. I just don't see how once the cancer is zapped by the cyberknife, or as he calls it the sabreknife, that the ureter will straighten out as it is very delicate. I guess we will never know anything, right???? Would you have opted to just remove the kidney than to wear a bag? When our husbands are this sick could they survive that kind of surgery? I know people live YEARS on one kidney. Our Urologist I don't think would be too quick to remove it. Don't know have to see.

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: No Tarceva/CT Scan / 3-D IMRT Monday

Lainy,

Our urologist felt he would not survive the surgery to remove the kidney, however in our case he did not survive anyway, however, had he been in better health at that time, I think he would have chosen to have one kidney removed over the bag. If Teddy is already weak & fatigued, I think the bag is probably the better choice for now. As for the Cyberknife, that was not an option for us so I real do not know anything about it or the results. Good luck to the two of you. God Bless You. You are in my prayers.

Darla

"One Day At A Time"

All of my comments and suggestions are just my opinions and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care providers.

Re: No Tarceva/CT Scan / 3-D IMRT Monday

Jeff, good luck to you. My dad has also been experiencing the jerking and he hand shakes. He's still having a tough go at it. I'm curious why did you decide not to do the Tarceva? You think radiation works better and takes the pain away? Dad is on Tarceva and had been on oxyplatin up until he got pneumonia a week ago. He's still fighting the pneumonia, weak and depressed.

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